Ethan Hawke’s Overlooked Masterpiece in "First Reformed"
Ethan Hawke delivered a stunning performance as Reverend Toller in Paul Schrader’s 2018 film First Reformed, a role that deserved an Oscar nomination. For more than three decades, Hawke has proven himself a versatile and dependable actor across a variety of genres and projects.
A Versatile Actor with a Unique Presence
Hawke is a rare talent—an archetypal character actor with the charisma of a movie star. His 2025 projects, including Black Phone 2 and Richard Linklater's Blue Moon, showcase his ability to excel both as a horror villain and in nuanced, auteur-driven dramas. Over the years, audiences have witnessed his remarkable growth, especially through Linklater’s Before trilogy.
Career Peak in "First Reformed"
In First Reformed, Hawke portrays a troubled church pastor grappling with deep anguish and existential fear in upstate New York. Collaborating with Paul Schrader, known for his intense character studies, Hawke delivered a career-defining performance filled with simmering rage and haunting intensity.
“Ethan Hawke was rudely snubbed of an Oscar nomination despite proverbially setting the screen on fire with his simmering rage and haunted aura he provides to one of the 2010s' finest films.”
The Film’s Recognition and Schrader’s Milestone
While Hawke's performance was overlooked, the film did earn Paul Schrader his first Oscar nomination, for Best Original Screenplay. This recognition highlights the film's powerful impact as a psychological drama centered on the fear of global apocalypse fueled by climate change.
“Arguably even more confounding than Ethan Hawke's snubbing for First Reformed was Paul Schrader's first nomination in his long and storied career, earning the film's lone nomination for Best Original Screenplay.”
Summary
Ethan Hawke’s exceptional portrayal in First Reformed remains one of the most profound and overlooked performances of the 2010s, showcasing his range and depth as an actor.